Purifier, separator, and grader.



No. 658,837. Patented 001. 2, I900.

G. L. ERNST.

PUBIFIER, SEPABATOR, AND GRADER.

(Application filed Oct. 18 1809.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet s a r@ Ill/ll Ill WITNESSES. I1 1 I .N' VEJVTOR.

V m: NORRIS FETERS cu PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON. n. c.

' 2 Sheets-Sheei 2.

INVENTOR.

@Zfirney Patented 'Oct. 2, I900.

G. L ERNST.

(Application filed Oct. 16, 1899.)

PURIFIER, SEPARATUR, AND GRADEB.

(No Model.)

UNIT D STATES 1 PATENT DFFICE GEORGE L. ERNST, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. TO THE DAVID- SON-MARTIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PURIFIER, SEPARAETOR, AND GRADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,837, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed October 16, 1899- berial No. 733,726. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: upper end of the case communicating at one Be it known that I, GEORGE L. ERNST, a side with the main chamber and at the opcitizen of the United States, residing at Port posite side with a vertical'air-trunk f, open- Huron, county of St. Clair, State ofMichi-- ing into the transverse trunk or passage d.

5 gan, have invented a certain new and useful These features may be constructed in the Improvement in Purifiers, Separators, and main as disclosed in the Patent- No. 543,927,

Graders; and I declare the following to be above mentioned, and the chamberc and the a full, clear, and exact description of the inair-passage 61 may be arranged and supplied vention, such as will enable others skilled in with the various provisions enumerated in 10 the art to which it appertains to make and use said last-named patent.

the same, reference being had to the accom- Within the main air-chambers are located pany ng drawings, which form a part of this 1 a series of cant-boards 9, arranged in pairs specification. converging toward their lower edges and dis- This invention has for its object certain charging into discharge-ducts, (indicated at h 65 :5 new and useful improvements in a purifier, 'h.) Above the adjacent cant-boardsg g proseparator, and grader adapted for a variety 1 jects a wall t'. of uses, the same being more particularly de- The cant-boa rds g tend to create, obviously, signed for purifying and grading flour and dead-air chambers above the discharge-ducts like products, the present invention having it h, (indicated at 70,) the stock falling into 70 20 reference to certain'improvements upon desaid dead-air chambers It being little or not vices of this character for which United at all affected by the air circulation permiting States Letters Patent were granted June 12, a separation of the stock, the separations of 1894, No. 521,402, and No. 543,927, granted the stock falling into the discharge-duct h, Angust 6, 1895. 3 as described in said patents. In these dead- 25 To this end the invention consists of the air chambers k k the heavier portions of the structure, combination, and arrangementof stock thereabove will-naturally separate and devices and appliances hereinafter described drop to the base of said air-chambers to be and claimed, and illustrated in the accomdischarged therefrom. So, also, as embodied panying drawings,'in whichin the Patent No. 543,927, above mentioned, 0 Figure 1 is a view in vertical section illusthe transverse air-trunk d is provided with trating the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cant-boards Z, diverging at their base, the transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. adjacent sides of the case or also converging Fig.3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3, to form dead-air chambers m m at the base Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the of the transverse air-trunk, said latter cham- 5 line 4 4, Fig. 1. here provided withdischarge-ducts n n, This invention aims to secure in a device whereby additional separations of the stock of this character greater utility and efficiency may take place. The main case a may be and to efiect a more thorough and satisfacprovided with supporting-legs, (indicated a tory grading of the stock fed to the machine 19 p.) v 0 0 and to combine in one machine novel fea- The main case a, with its interior structures tures and means whereby more eifectualsepaand arrangements, embodied in the patent ration and gradingof the stock may be selast-above named, is provided in my prescured. ent invention with an auxiliary chamber (in- As illustrated in the drawings, an inclosdioated at g) at one'side the main chamber a, 5 5 ing case is provided, (represented at 01,) the and in which auxiliary chamber are located interior of which is divided by a partition I), air-passages 1, 2, and 3, communicating at preferably made rounding or arc-shaped, their base with the air-trunk d, and at the thereby forming within the interior of the top thereof through the upper end of-the auxcase a main air-chamber c and a transverse iliary chamber with the main air-chamber, as

50 air trunk or passage therebelow, (indicated at through an opening j. The auxiliary chamd.) Afan-case 6, with its fan, is located in the her q may be constructed with a suitable case or shaker, (indicated at r.) In the auxiliary chamber q are also located a series of screens and discharge-ducts for securing a more effectual grading of the stock. Thus a series of screens are indicated at t n U, which may be arranged in any suitable manner within the chamber q. To this end they may be secured, for example, to the case 1. Below each of said screens is a corresponding cant or return board (indicated at w a: 3 reaching from the rear end of the adjacent screen in the opposite direction. The boards are arranged at an angle to the screens, and the boards w a: discharge, respectively, upon the screens u v. Below the discharge ends of said screens,respectively,are located acorresponding series of separating or deposit chambers, (indicated at 4:, 5, and 6,) provided with corresponding discharge-ducts 7, 8, and 9.

The air-passage 1 may be formed by a vertical defiectingpartition (indicated at z,) and the adjacent end of the separating-chamber 4. The outer walls of each of the deposit-chambers 4, 5, and 6, respectively, are formed by deflecting-partitions 10, 11, and 12, projecting upwardly at an angle and offset at the upper portion thereof and arranged to project over the corresponding deposit-chambers, respectively. The vertical partition 2 is also preferably constructed with an upwardly-inclined (wall indicated at 13) to deflect the aircurrent passing through the air-passage 1 against the wall 10. So, also, the current passing upward through the air-passage 2 is deflected in consequence of offsetting the wall 10, as above described, while the air passing through the passage 3 is also offsetin consequence of the offsetting of the wall 11. The deposit-chamber 4 opens upward under the discharge end of the screen i. The deposit-chamber 5 opens upward underneath the discharge end of the screen u, while the deposit-chamber 6 opens upward under the discharge end of the screen 2), The slanting return-boards w m y all tend to throw inward the air passing upward through the passages l 2 3, so that the various air-currents through said passages 1 2 3 converge and comini'ngle beneath the discharge end of the screen t and pass through the openingj into the main airchamber 0.

In the present case I prefer to locate the feeding-hopper 14 intermediate the sides of the case of the machine and to locate therebeneath a screen 15, discharging at its outer end outside the machine, the stock passing therethrough falling upon a cant-board 16, which discharges upon the screen 2. Beneath the screen 15 is a separating-board 17, the same being preferably a continuation of the cant-board l6, cutting off the air from beneath said screen.

The operation of the device so far explained is as follows: Itis evident that the fan located in the upper part of the inclosing case pro-- duces an ascending suction-current through the air-passages in the auxiliary cham her and a blast-current upon the other side of the fan, the ascending suction-current and blast-current forming an endless air-current. The deflecting-partitions in the auxiliary chamber,as above described, form independent passages for the ascending current, each of said airpassages being provided with an adjacent deposit-chamber for the deflected and precipitated material. As shown in the drawings, also, said partitions increase gradually in height in a line having a general direction toward the opening j or in a general direction toward the fan. The shaker r carries a series of alternating successive screens and returnboards one below another, each successive screen receiving the product passing through the screen above, and said screens each arranged with its discharge end corresponding with the increased height of the partitions, so as to tail over the coarser product into its own separate air-passage of said series, a settling-chamber being thus located between the said screen and air-passages, and the fan adapted to receive the material precipitated by gravity from the suction-current. The stock fed into the hopper 14 is discharged upon the screen 15, the stock passing therethrongh discharging upon the boards 16 and 17, whereby the stock is discharged upon the screen if. The stock discharged from the inner edge of the screen i is discharged therefrom in such a manner that the ascending air-current thereat strikes it from below to separate the lighter products and carry them into the chamber 0. The portion of the stock discharged from the screen t too heavy to he carried by the air-current into the chamber c,it will be perceived,drops into the deposit-chamber 4, from whence it may be discharged through the duct 7. The slanting wall or partition 13 is offset, so that its inner surface overhangs theinnerwall of the chamber 4, leaving an air-passage between the upper edge of said inner wall and the board 13, as above described. The stock passing through the screen t is discharged upon the return-board w and thence upon the screen u. That portion of the stock which is discharged from the inner edge of the screen it, it will be seen, falls upon the ascending current of air passing through the passage 2, whereby another separation takes place, the lighter portions of the stock being carried upward by the air-current and the remainder dropping into the depositchamber 5, the wall 10 being offset, so as to overhang the upper edge of the inner wall of said chamber 5, as shown. The stock passing through the screen u falls upon the returnboard 00, passing thence up on the screen c. That portion of the stock discharged from the inner edge of the screen 1; falls upon the ascending air-current passing through the passage 3, whereby another separation takes place, as before, the heavier portions of the stock thereat falling into the deposit-chamber 6. The portion of the stock passing through the screen '1) falls upon the return-board y and IIO is discharged into a chamber 18, from whence it may be discharged through a duct 19. The product passing into the chamber 18 will be flour-dust.

The case or shaker 'r, with thescreens and their respective return-boards, is preferably made agitable in any suitable manner. I do not limit myself to any particular Way of agitating the same; but, as shown, the case 1" may have connected therewith an arm (shown in dotted lines at 20) arranged in the path of a rotatable knocker 21. Within the main air-chamber c I prefer to locate a diaphragm 22, which may be constructed in any suitable manner and which may be made vertically adjustable, the lower end being shown adjustably engaged with a movable arm 23. This diaphragm is located in the vicinity of the orifice j and over the chamber is first occurring below said opening. The location of the diaphragm is such as to permit, preferably, a portion of the air to pass thereover, thereby checking the force of the air-current at the base thereof and forming a separation of the'stock to be made over the corresponding dead-air chamber 70. So, also, adjacent to the entrance into the fan-case is another diaphragm, (indicated at 24,) preferably made foraminous and adjustable, as upon a swingingarm 25. This diaphragm obviously checks the air-draft therebeneath, permitting another separation into the corresponding chamber 70. I do not limit myself to any precise number of these diaphragms and corresponding separating dead-air chambers Within the chamber 0; nor do I limit myself to any specific number of separating or dead-air chambers in the lower portion of the transverse air-duct d. I would have it understood, moreover, that I do not limit myself to any given number of screens within the auxiliary chamber q, nor to any specific number of airpassages and deposit-chambers within the.

chamber. g. It will be evidentthat the main chamber 0 is in the nature of an expansionchamber. This fact, in connection with the separating devices above explained, will secure corresponding separations within said chamber. It will be obvious that the initial separation is made by the screen 15. The next grading or separation will be made at the discharge end of the screen t, as above explained, another at the discharge end of the screen to, and another at the discharge end of the screen 22, these gradings or separations being made in the auxiliary chambers q. The stock carried by the current into the chamber 0 is graded into the various chambers It is, and further separations are made at the base of the transverse duct (1.

The case r is preferably made with three sides. The bumper-arm 20 may be in the nature of a spring-arm. The walls of the deposit-chambers 4L, 5, and 6 are so formed as to permit air circulation thereabout, so that the air-current may enter the air-ducts To this end the walls of adjacent thereto.

the chambers may converge laterally, as in dicated more particularly in Fig. 2.

The stock discharged from the ducts 7, 8, 9, and 19 might be kept separate, if desired, or said ducts might converge after the air has properly acted upon the stock so as to discharge from a single chute.

In Fig. 2 two of the spring-arms 20 are shown, a cross-arm havingits extremities resting thereupon, the bumper 21 engaging the cross-arm 26.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inclosing case, of a main air-chamber, an auxiliary air-chamber opening into the main air-chamber toward the upper end thereof, a series of deflectingpartitions forming independent air-passages within the auxiliary chamber, each provided with an adjacent deposit-chamber for the deflected and precipitated material, said partitions graduallyincreasing in height in a line having a general direction toward the opening of the auxiliary chamber into the main air-chamber, means to efiect ascending aircurrents through said air-passages into said main air-chamber, and separating devices in said auxiliary chamber arranged to discharge into the ascending air-currents through said air-passages.

2. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inclosingcase, of afan located in the upper portion of the case, a main air-chamber communicating with the interior of the fan-case on one side thereof, a vertical air-trunk communicating with the opposite side of the fan-case, a transverse airtrnnk below the main air-chamber communi eating with said vertical air-trunk, an auxiliary chamber at one side of the main airchamber and opening thereinto, plural deflecting-partitions in said auxiliary chamber forming independent air-passages communicating at their base with said transverse airtrunk, and at their upper ends with said main air-chamber, each of said air-passages provided with an adjacent deposit-chamber, and plural separating devices in said auxiliary chamber arranged to discharge into the aircurrents in ascending through said air-pas sages, said partitions gradually increasing in height in a direction toward the fan, substantially as described.

3. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inclosing case, of a main air-chamber, an air-trunk therebelow, an auxiliary chamber at one side the main air-chamber and opening thereinto, deflecting-partitions forming independent air-passages within the auxiliary chamber communieating at their base with said air-trunk, and

at their upper ends through the auxiliary chamber with the main air-chamber, a deposit-chamber adjacent to each of said airpassages, means to effect'an air circulation through said air-trunk and upward through said air-passages into the main air-chamber and from said main air-chamber into said airtrunk, and separating devices in said auxiliary chamber arranged to discharge into the air-currents ascending through said air-passages, said partitions graduallyincreasing in height in a direction toward the opening of said auxiliary chamber into the main airchamber.

4:. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inclosing case, of a main air-chamber provided with separating the air-current ascending through the corresponding air-passage.

5. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inelosing case, of a main airchamber, a transverse air trunk therebelow, a vertical air-trunk on one side the main air-chamber communicating at its base with a transverse airtrunk, a fan and its case located in the upper part of the inclosing case communicating on opposite sides thereof with the main air-chamber and with the upper end of the vertical airtrunk, an auxiliary chamber on the side of the main air-chamber opposite the vertical air-trunk communicating at the top thereof with the main air-chamber, a feeding device discharging into the upper end of the auxiliary chamber, deflecting-partitions forming independent air-passages within the auxiliary chamber communicating at their upper ends through the auxiliary chamber with the main airchamber, and at their lower ends with said transverse air-duct, deposit-chambers located in said auxiliary chamber adjacent to the corresponding air-passages, and separating devices arranged one below another in the auxiliary chamber to discharge the stock passing thereover into the air-currents passing through said air passages, said partitions arranged to deflect the air -currents rising through said air-passages over corresponding deposit-chambers, respectively.

6. In a purifier, separator and grader, the combination within an inclosing case, of a main air-chamber, a fan located in the upper part of said inclosing case arranged to produce an ascending suction-current upon one side through the main air-chamber, and a blast-current upon the other side and forming an endless ai r-current, an auxiliary chamber opening at its upper end into the main air chamber, deflectingpartitions forming independent passages within the auxiliary chamber for the ascending current, adepositchamber adjacent to each of said air-passages to receive the deflected and precipitated stock, said partitions increasing gradually in height in a line having a general direction toward the fan, a shaker within the auxiliary chamber carrying a series of alternating successive screens and return-boards, one below another, each successive screen receiving the product passing through the screens above, and said screens each arranged with its discharge end corresponding to the increased height of the partitions to tail over the coarser product into its aforesaid independent airpassage, said main air-chamber located between the said screens and the air-passages and the fan, and adapted to receive the stock to precipitate each by gravity from the suction-current.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. ERNST. Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. HICKEY. 

